Dan Cleary headed to Flyers, Paul Holmgren says

Sam Carchidi

Posted:
Tuesday, September 10, 2013, 12:53 AM

The Flyers appear to have found their third-line left winger.

General manager Paul Holmgren confirmed on Tuesday that Dan Cleary will be at the Flyers' camp Thursday on a tryout contract. However, Holmgren said no deal was in place, as was reported by the Detroit Free Press.

"There are no promises. It's just like the Hal Gill (contract)," he said.

The Detroit newspaper said Cleary had agreed to a three-year deal worth $2.75 million per year, and that it would be signed after the Flyers gain cap space by putting Chris Pronger on the LTIR list at the start of the season.

There is also a chance the Flyers will deal one of their high-priced defensemen, such as Andrej Meszaros.

The move means Simon Gagne will not be invited to camp. Max Talbot, Scott Laughton, Tye McGinn and Michael Raffl had been among the candidates to play LW on the third line.

Cleary had nine goals, six assists and a minus-6 rating in 48 games with the Red Wings last season; he had 10 points in 14 playoff games.

The 6-foot, 203-pound Cleary brings a different element than Gagne. He is known as an agitator and a pest _ and someone who is tough to play against. Holmgren said that is why they invited him to camp over Gagne, calling Cleary "a glue guy who can play in all situations."

The Flyers will be about $1 million over the $64.3 million cap if Laughton does not make the team. They will get $4.9 million in cap relief when Pronger goes on the LTIR list.

If on the team, Cleary figures to play on a line with Sean Couturier and Matt Read.